All Blacks Aim for Bledisloe Cup Retention Against Australia

New Zealand’s All Blacks are poised to secure the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd consecutive year with a victory over Australia on Saturday at Eden Park. The clash, part of the Rugby Championship, comes just ten days after a disappointing 43-10 defeat to South Africa, a loss that assistant coach Jason Holland acknowledges deeply affected the team.

Holland expressed confidence that the All Blacks have moved past the emotional toll of their heaviest defeat in test rugby. “The boys hurt massively during the last week,” he stated during a press conference in Auckland. He emphasized the importance of the Bledisloe Cup to the team, highlighting the shared understanding among the players regarding its significance.

The All Blacks have held the trans-Tasman trophy since 2003. Their upcoming match against the Wallabies is crucial, not only for pride but also for positioning within the Rugby Championship, where Australia currently leads with 11 points, followed closely by South Africa and New Zealand.

Holland, who serves as the attack coach under head coach Scott Robertson, faces scrutiny following the team’s struggles in second halves of matches. In their last outing, the All Blacks were scoreless after halftime against South Africa. This followed a narrow victory over the Springboks the week prior, where they managed just 10 points in the second half.

To counter these issues, Holland has identified the need for a better balance between kicking and running plays. The All Blacks gave up too much possession with their kicking game against the Springboks, a trend they aim to reverse. The return of scrumhalf Cameron Roigard, who has been recovering from a foot injury, could be pivotal in achieving this balance. Roigard has been absent for the entire Rugby Championship but contributed to a thorough review of the Wellington defeat this past weekend.

Reflecting on the team’s review process, Roigard noted, “There was a bit of edge about the review, some real honest conversations talking about standards and expectations.” This in-depth analysis was crucial for the players, who pride themselves on their performance and commitment to making New Zealand proud.

The All Blacks are keen to demonstrate their resilience and capitalize on the lessons learned from their recent setbacks. As they prepare for the high-stakes match against the Wallabies, the focus remains on regaining their composure and executing their game plan effectively. With the Bledisloe Cup on the line, the stakes could not be higher.